About Lyra
Lyra is Bristol’s annual poetry festival.
Lyra brings together local, national and international poets and speakers, representing Bristol as a centre of world class poetry and booking artists from across the UK and world alongside Bristol based artists.
Our aim is to showcase poetry in the widest range of forms possible, including readings, slam competitions, poetry film screenings, poetic walking tours, digital media, discussion panels, open mics, lectures and more.
We believe poetry is something for everyone to enjoy and participate in, and our festival aim is to be inclusive, diverse and accessible to all, as well as involving participatory activities. We offer BSL and captioned events, online/digital content, and all of our live activities take place in wheelchair accessible spaces.
We aim to connect communities of Bristol through poetry and co-curate experiences, and we welcome partnerships and collaborations from other organisations. Each year our appointed Festival Poet brings poetry activities to various community groups.
Lyra runs Bristol’s Young City Poet scheme and organises poetry activities + commission projects throughout the year.
Our Festival is managed by two directors who bring their individual expertise and skills, and who are guided by a steering committee representing different communities and approaches to poetry.
At the heart of all we do is the desire to celebrate the unique culture and creativity of Bristol.
Lyra is supported using public funding from Arts Council England.